Mahesh Bhupathi triumphs in Memphis

Sydney was a nightmare, Melbourne was good, San Jose was okay but it was Memphis which proved lucky for Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles. The top seeds prevailed in the doubles event at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in the US city, grabbing their first title as a pair - that too without losing a set in four matches.

In the final, Bhupathi and Knowles proved too good for Thai twins Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana, triumphing 7-6(5), 6-2 in one hour and 16 minutes.

After an ominous 2008 debut in Sydney, where they bowed out in their opening match, Bhupathi and Knowles had reached the semifinals of the Australian Open in January and the quarterfinals at San Jose last month.

Sunday's victory added $23,500 to Bhupathi's wallet and saw him move one rung up to 18 on the weekly ATP ranking list. As a pair, Bhupathi and Knowles are now placed second in the ATP Doubles Race.

"We have started real well and (are) looking to continue with our form," the 33-year-old Indian told the Indian Tennis Blog.

Memphis was doubles title no. 42 in Bhupathi's career and the strapping south Indian now heads for the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships to compete with Knowles in a doubles draw that includes fellow Indians Leander Paes (with Paul Hanley) and Rohan Bopanna (with Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi).
(Pic: ATP site)